391 
the form of the usual scales. In one instance the central bud had 
developed a single—the lowest—internode, and bore at the top 
of this internode, in the axil of the first scale, a small lateral bud, 
thus making with the two lower lateral buds a group of four scaly 
buds in this leaf axil. os 
Possibly palazobotany may some day shed light on the evolu- 
tion of scaly winter buds. So far the fossil branches of dicoto- 
lydenous plants have been practically ignored. In the future 
they will no doubt be used to give corroborative. evidence to the 
testimony as given by leaves alone, and we may hope for the day 
when the winter buds, wherever preserved, will be carefully 
studied. 
Dropsical Pelargoniums.* 
For the past two or three years there has been an increased 
number of complaints made to the Experiment Station of a 
disease among the hot house Pélargoniums. Specimens received 
from at least a dozen places all agree in the chief essentials, while 
there are many variations in the details of appearance to the un- 
assisted vision. 
While the trouble is most noticeable upon the leaf blades it is 
by no means confined there. . Upon the stem it shows itself in 
peculiar corky ridges which are not unfrequent upon the petioles. 
Upon the blades the usual appearance is that of numerous specks 
which seem to be supercharged with water giving to those parts 
a clear amber look when held up to the light. The first thought 
was of bacteria, there being a resemblance of the watery glands 
to specks found in the carnation leaves previously studied and 
known to be due to micro-organisms. 
After making a full test for bacteria and failing to secure germs 
or any signs of contagion by inoculation it was concluded that 
the Pelargoniums were suffering from a dropsical affliction, and 
instead of the trouble being due to any parasite it seems to be 
entirely physiological. Photo-impressions were taken of the 
leaves showing different phases of the disorder. 
In a green-house devoted entirely to Pelargoniums the trouble 
Se es 
_ * Prepared for the Botanical Club, Madison, Wisconsin, August, 1893. 
